Pyeong Hwa Gyeong (120) Book 7. The World of the Culture of Heart CHAPTER 9. Dialogue and Harmony among Civilizations
1. Peace among civilizations and interreligious dialogue
Many civilizations have risen and fallen over the course of history. Certain civilizations rose to power and were highly advanced, yet they declined and now are forgotten. Civilizations collapse partly because of external factors such as climate change, disease, hostile invasions or natural disasters. However, in most cases, internal factors, particularly those related to the decline of religion and morality, have played a greater role.
Increasingly, we observe conflicts caused by disharmony or misunderstanding among religions, and their dangerous consequences. If religions do not place a high priority on interreligious dialogue and harmony, dialogue and harmony among civilizations will be impossible.
Religions are the internal center of world civilizations, but the family is the basic foundation upon which even religions exist. As we all know well, all people are born from a love relationship between a father and a mother and within that is our connection of lineage to them. That lineage continues on through the generations.
As a training ground to develop and nurture an individual’s character, the family is far more important than schools or government. Also, the family has had a primary role in the creation, development and propagation of culture and civilization. Without the family, civilization cannot be passed on to the next generation. The family is the all-important first school for learning about love. Love between parents and children, between husbands and wives, and among brothers and sisters need to be grounded in God’s true love. When a family directly connects to God’s true love, it substantiates God’s true love culture. This can be the beginning point for building a civilization of true love and peace.
A true man and a true woman form a true family. Their exemplary, loving relationship creates a true family of love and peace, which contains the solution to the world s larger problems.
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